5 Colo. Code Regs. § 1002-55.5
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 20, October 25, 2024
Section 5 CCR 1002-55.5 - SMALL COMMUNITIES WATER AND WASTEWATER GRANT FUND CRITERIA(1) Entity Eligibility (a) Suppliers of water that serve a population of not more than five thousand people. The department, in the name of the state and to the extent that state funds are appropriated therefor, may enter into contracts with both governmental agencies and not-for-profit public water systems, as defined in section 25-1.5-201(1), or with counties representing unincorporated areas that serve a population of not more than five thousand people, to grant moneys for the planning, design, and construction of public water systems.
(b) Domestic waste water treatment works that serve a population of not more than five thousand people. The department, in the name of the state and to the extent that state funds are appropriated therefor, may enter into contracts with governmental agencies, or counties representing unincorporated areas that serve a population of not more than five thousand people, for domestic wastewater treatment works as defined in section 25-8-103(5) to grant moneys for eligible projects as defined in section 25-8-701(2)..
(c) During the grant application process, the department shall seek from the division of local government in the department of local affairs a fiscal analysis of the applying entity to determine financial need. Based upon its fiscal analysis, the division of local government shall issue or deny a certificate of financial need. If a certificate of financial need is issued, the department may authorize a state grant to the project in accordance with the project prioritization adopted by the department.(2) Project Eligibility(a) Projects for the planning, design, and construction of public water systems or domestic wastewater treatment works that serve a population of not more than five thousand people and which are necessary for the protection of public health and water quality.(3) Award Process and Funding Allocation(a) The division will administer the funds per the Small Communities Water and Wastewater Grant Fund rules identified in this section. The available funds will be allocated approximately 50/50 between water and wastewater projects. The division will adjust the 50/50 allocation if necessary depending upon the quantity and composition of the application requests. No more than 10% of the total available funds will be distributed to any single water and/or wastewater eligible project. The division will notify all applicants of their funding status after the establishment of a fundable list. The fundable list will be posted on the division website to identify the recipients of funds and the amount of each award.
(4) Project Prioritization (a) Drinking Water i) If the demand for funding in the Small Communities Water and Wastewater Grant Fund exceeds the available funds, the division shall rank each project based on financial/affordability, drinking water quality and public health, Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulation compliance, and readiness to proceed. The division will give priority to the applicants that have the lowest financial ability to pay based upon project ranking criteria. Specific point ranking criteria and associated points under each of the above factors will be included in the request for application. Projects will be funded in priority order from highest to lowest until all funds have been allocated. ii) Additional points will be awarded if the need for the project is a result of a natural disaster in a county where the Governor has declared a disaster emergency by Executive Order or proclamation under section 24-33.5-704, C.R.S.(b) Wastewater i) If the demand for funding in the Small Communities Water and Wastewater Grant Fund exceeds the available funds, the division shall rank each project based on financial/affordability, water quality improvement, permit compliance, and readiness to proceed. The division will give priority to the applicants that have the lowest financial ability to pay based upon project ranking criteria. Specific point ranking criteria and associated points under each of the above factors will be included in the request for application. Projects will be funded in priority order from highest to lowest until all funds have been allocated. ii) Additional points will be awarded if the need for the project is a result of a natural disaster in a county where the Governor has declared a disaster emergency by Executive Order or proclamation under section 24-33.5-704, C.R.S.37 CR 17, September 10, 2014, effective 9/30/201440 CR 23, December 10, 2017, effective 12/31/201746 CR 01, January 10, 2023, effective 1/30/2023